Former Scotland boss Craig Brown says that it would be better for the national side if Celtic captain Scott Brown removed doubt over his international future and committed himself to his country.

The midfielder captained the Scots in Sunday night’s win over Slovenia at Hampden, but he was non-committal afterwards over his availability for the June qualifier against England.

But while the former national coach Brown believes it is time for his namesake to provide some clarity around his situation, he says the Celtic man should be in the squad whenever possible - even if that means sitting out the England match and returning in September.

Read more: Should Scotland allow Celtic captain Scott Brown to pick and choose when he plays?

“I’d rather he didn’t pick and choose which games he plays in and just made himself available to Gordon,” Brown said. “But you could say that he’s been disarmingly honest by doing what he’s done.

“He could just as easily have waited until he’s been selected and then pulled out of squads, pretending to have an injury – that would have kept his options open.

“You can see that he looks fit and healthy at the moment but, before the England game, Gordon will check out his disposition and find out whether or not he’s going to play.

“I would think Brendan Rodgers wants his players to play for Scotland; I’m sure he does, particularly the younger ones, because it’s a good level, although Brown is experienced and probably won’t learn much more from these games.

“But even if, for a justifiable reason, Scott isn’t around when we play England, I’m a great believer in picking the best players available.

“If he told Gordon: ‘Please forgive me but I’ve had a hard season and I’m not going to be able to give my best against England’ then that’s different.

“So, when it comes time to play in Lithuania in September. I’d have him back in the squad.”

Brown has meanwhile offered his support for the man currently filling his old position, Gordon Strachan, after the win over the Slovenians effectively kept him in his role.

Read more: Should Scotland allow Celtic captain Scott Brown to pick and choose when he plays?

Brown says that Strachan should now be left alone to get on with the job until the end of the current campaign.

“I think it would be right if the SFA honoured the contract,” he said. “I’m sure Gordon will because he’s said how much he loves the job – and managing Scotland is a super job.

“For me, the SFA shouldn’t even have to come out and say this – it should be understood. If they came out and said it after Sunday then they’d need to do that after every game.

“The most dignified way to handle this is to accept that he’s our manager and get on with it. They shouldn’t have to endorse his situation after every game. I’d like to think there’s nothing unclear.

“But we played very well against Slovenia and, if Leigh Griffiths had had any luck, we would have been two up at half-time and we would’ve gone on to win by four or five.

“The 1-0 scoreline flattered them massively and I believe we can now be really optimistic about the remainder of the campaign.

“I believe that win has brought the feelgood factor back and not just in the dressing room – the Tartan Army is more upbeat as well now.”

Brown feels that the revitalising effect of the win over Slovenia is such that it could carry Scotland all the way to Russia next summer.

Read more: Should Scotland allow Celtic captain Scott Brown to pick and choose when he plays?

“It would be a great achievement and I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said. “I think we’ve been desperately unlucky up until now.

“Gordon is the man for the job. I am positive about him but I also look at his team – apart from Celtic, if you look at the clubs in England he’s drawing from

“I was getting Paul Lambert from Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund. Gary McAllister won three trophies in one season with Liverpool – that was the level of player I had at my disposal.”

*Craig Brown was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.